How long will the building survey take? Is a common question that we are asked during most enquiries.

In short, the time taken on a building survey depends on the property. The size of the property, the age of the property, its construction, the defects we may find and the extent of furnishings and carpets which can determine our access, are all factors to take into consideration.

However, we’ve put together a little guide below to give you an indication:

If you’re in need of a Building Survey or Homebuyers Report, contact RMA Surveyors on 01635 579208.

We can advise you on whether you require a Homebuyers Report or Building Survey and provide you with a quote for our services.

RMA Surveyors Ltd are based in Newbury, Berkshire. We provide a wide range of building surveying services in Newbury, West Berkshire and the surrounding areas. Get in touch for professional advice. We are an independent company and take pride in the fact that we provide honest, impartial and credible advice to our clients. We are members of, registered with and regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to ensure we maintain high professional standards.

While undertaking a Homebuyers Survey on a four bedroom detached house in Highclere, RMA Surveyors, Newbury, highlighted a list of defects where further investigation would be required.

Notably, we found evidence of a partial blockage to the drain, believed to be caused by tree roots. We reported this back to our client in the Homebuyer Report.

We recommended the client commission a CCTV survey of the drain runs, as this would provide a clear diagnosis of any problem.

The client had the drains checked by a drainage specialist, who discovered there were bush and tree roots present in all of the drain runs.

As a consequence, insurers would only provide buildings insurance if subsidence was specifically excluded from the policy. This was a big risk for our client as we also noted some evidence of subsidence to a subsidiary structure at the premises within the same survey. The insurers stipulated that all drain repairs must be undertaken and a further structural survey be carried out prior to any policy being agreed.

As a result, the Mortgage company refused to lend and their mortgage offer was withdrawn. This defect was not picked up by the mortgage valuation survey as these types of survey are very limited in scope.

Why Get a Homebuyers Report?

By commissioning a Homebuyers Report, the client saved valuable time and considerable future expense and inconvenience.

It is important to remember that a mortgage valuation is not a survey. It is undertaken on behalf of the lender, not the purchaser and only serves to determine whether or not the property provides enough security for the bank to lend upon.

This case proves that a Homebuyers Survey and Report does save our client’s money. A property purchase is one of the biggest investments you will make, and commissioning a Homebuyers Report or Building Survey will provide peace of mind that the investment is a solid one.

We recently undertook a Homebuyer Report within Thatcham on a two bedroom bungalow.

When making an enquiry, people often ask us what the difference is between a Homebuyer Report and a Building Survey. Our simple response is that while both involve a survey of the property, a Homebuyer Report details all the essential elements of a building but goes into less detail than a Building Survey.

If you would like to read more about the details of each report, take a look at our Property Surveys page.

The client, in this case, was uncertain as to which type of report they should instruct and asked for our advice. We were able to undertake a quick assessment of the building, its age and type and advised that a Homebuyer Report would be sufficient for a structure of this nature.

When we undertook the survey we were able to report that there was a roof leak and damp to the ground floor of the property, we also highlighted a number of issues externally. As a result of our report, the client made the decision that the liability was too great for the price they had agreed and decided to withdraw from the sale.

If you are unsure which type of survey would be most suitable for the type of property that you are intending to purchase, please contact us and we shall be happy to discuss this with you.

For a Homebuyer Report or Building Survey quote, please call 01635 579208 or complete the enquiry form.

Whilst undertaking a homebuyers survey in Newbury, our surveyor discovered damp to the base of internal and external walls and damp also to the ground floor throughout the property.

The exact cause of damp could not be determined, although our suspicions were that the damp was caused by a damaged or failed damp proof membrane to the floor. Other possibilities included buried service pipes within the floor screed, which could be leaking.

It is very common for service pipes buried in screed prior to the 1970’s to not be properly protected. Copper pipes can react with the cement within floor screeds causing corrosion; this process is accelerated where moisture is present. In some cases, where we have found similar problems and pipes have been exposed, the copper pipes are extremely thin due to this corrosive process and prone to leaking.

If you have any concerns regarding damp or are experience any similar problems please contact us on 01635 579208 or use the form below.